Script Template for Dramatizing Social Studies Activity Title: Christopher Columbus’ Voyage PA Standards: v8.4.3. D. Identify how conflict and cooperation among social groups and organizations affected world history. v7.1.3. B. Identify and locate places and regions.
Physical features
Continents and oceans
Major landforms, rivers and lakes in North America
Local community
NCSS Themes: vTime, Continuity, and Change vPeople, Places, and Environment vPower, Authority, and Governance vGlobal Connections
Subject Area: vHistory vGeography
Grade Level: 3rd
Time: 20-25 minutes; students will complete an activity after the script has been read (will not be done in class) Script vCharacter(s): King, Queen, Columbus, Crew Member 1, Crew Member 2, Indian, Narrator vSetting: Narrator sets the scene in Spain, and Columbus asking permission for funding to find a new route to the Far East. vProps: Hats, crowns, feathers, silver pebbles, Smart board
Narrator- In 1492, Christopher Columbus went to the rulers of Spain- Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand-to see if they would fund his voyage. They believe in Christopher Columbus, and agree to pay for his voyage to the Far East. Columbus promise to find a new route from Spain to the Far East so they can trade with other nations and Spain can become rich. Columbus- I believe I can find a new route from Spain to the Far East. Will you give me money for my travels? King Ferdinand- Let me discuss the matter briefly with my wife. What do you think Queen Isabella should we approve this voyage? Queen Isabella- Yes, I believe that he will bring great wealth to Spain if he is successful in finding this new route. King Ferdinand- (To Columbus) We will give you money for your travels if you promise to bring us gold and spices! Columbus- Thank you for this opportunity. Narrator- Columbus knows the world is round. So he thinks to himself why not travel to the Far East by sailing west? But the world turns out to be bigger than Columbus thinks. And there is something else Columbus doesn’t know. Two huge continents lie in his way. Nobody in Europe knows they are there. On August 3, 1492 Columbus starts out to sea with three ships, the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. Soon the sailors cannot see land. Crew Member 1- Where are we? I do not see any land. Columbus- I’m not sure, but we have plenty of food and water to last a few weeks. Crew Member 2- What if the wind stops blowing and there is a storm? The ships are small and only made of wood. Columbus- We have extra sails and spare wood on the boats, don’t worry me lassy. Narrator- Weeks and weeks go by. Now everyone is tired and scared. They are tired of eating salt meat. Tired of seeing nothing but ocean. Tired of being stuck on the tiny ships. One morning the sailors see a strange sight. A blanket of seaweed covers the ocean. The sailors are afraid, but Columbus tells them to keep going. Columbus- Sail on! Crew Member 1- Where is the land you promised? Columbus- Look at the birds flying overhead and the leafy branches floating in the water. Land must be nearby! Don’t worry me lassy. Narrator- More days go by. The sailors complain loudly. Crew Member 2- Who cares about finding a new route to the Indies! Columbus we must turn back now, if not we will throw you overboard! Columbus- Please I beg you to wait just three more days! Narrator- The first night goes by. On the second night, the lookout on the Pinta sees something ahead. The moonlight is reflecting off a sandy beach. Crew Member 1- Land! Land! There is land ahead! Narrator- The message is sent from ship to ship. It is October 12, 1492. As the sun rises, everyone can see an island. Crew Member 2- This must be the Far East! I can’t wait to get onto shore. (Kisses sand) Narrator- There are people on the island. Columbus calls them Indians because he thinks he has reached the Indies. Columbus- I shall name this island San Salvador. This island now belongs to Spain! Indian - The Island really belongs to us, the people who live here. I have never seen men with those sharp objects. What do they carry in their hands and why have they come? Narrator- Columbus gives the Indians shiny beads and tiny bells. The Indians give Columbus soft cloth and colorful birds. Columbus- People in Spain do not have cotton or birds. Where do you get the gold rings that you wear? Indian- I not understand. Narrator- Columbus sails further west to look for gold. He visits other islands and meets more Indians. He sees many new things. Columbus- But where is the gold? Narrator- Early one morning a strong wind drives the Santa Maria aground. Crew Member 1- The ship is wrecked! Columbus- I will move to the Nina. Crew Member 2- There is not enough rooms for everyone. This ship is too tiny! Several of us will stay behind on the Island. Narrator- Soon the Nina and the Pinta are ready to sail back to Spain. The ships are already loaded with many new kinds of food-corn, potatoes, peanuts, papayas, and avocados. Columbus forces some of the Indians to come with him because people in Spain have never seen Indians. On the way home the weather changes, fierce winds batter the ships. Huge waves wash over the decks. Even Columbus is afraid of sinking. Columbus- It is March 15, 1493 and we are finally home! Our voyage has lasted thirty-two weeks! I’ve never been so happy to see Spain! Narrator- Columbus rides on a mule to visit the king and queen. Everywhere along the way people gather to cheer him and to see what he has brought back. Queen Isabella- You are a hero! King Ferdinand- We will now call you “Admiral of the Ocean Sea.” Columbus- Thank you, I am honored! Narrator- They believe he has found a new route to the Indies. They have no idea that San Salvador and the other islands he visited are not part of the Indies at all! For the rest of his life, Columbus never knows how truly great his discovery is. He has really found a new world- a world that no one in Europe knew about. It is called America!
Activity: After the script is presented, students will complete a word search that goes along with the Columbus theme.
Script Template for Dramatizing Social Studies
Activity Title: Christopher Columbus’ Voyage
PA Standards:
v 8.4.3. D. Identify how conflict and cooperation among social groups and organizations affected world history.
v 7.1.3. B. Identify and locate places and regions.
NCSS Themes:
v Time, Continuity, and Change
v People, Places, and Environment
v Power, Authority, and Governance
v Global Connections
Subject Area:
v History
v Geography
Grade Level: 3rd
Time: 20-25 minutes; students will complete an activity after the script has been read (will not be done in class)
Script
v Character(s): King, Queen, Columbus, Crew Member 1, Crew Member 2, Indian, Narrator
v Setting: Narrator sets the scene in Spain, and Columbus asking permission for funding to find a new route to the Far East.
v Props: Hats, crowns, feathers, silver pebbles, Smart board
Narrator- In 1492, Christopher Columbus went to the rulers of Spain- Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand-to see if they would fund his voyage. They believe in Christopher Columbus, and agree to pay for his voyage to the Far East. Columbus promise to find a new route from Spain to the Far East so they can trade with other nations and Spain can become rich.
Columbus- I believe I can find a new route from Spain to the Far East. Will you give me money for my travels?
King Ferdinand- Let me discuss the matter briefly with my wife. What do you think Queen Isabella should we approve this voyage?
Queen Isabella- Yes, I believe that he will bring great wealth to Spain if he is successful in finding this new route.
King Ferdinand- (To Columbus) We will give you money for your travels if you promise to bring us gold and spices!
Columbus- Thank you for this opportunity.
Narrator- Columbus knows the world is round. So he thinks to himself why not travel to the Far East by sailing west? But the world turns out to be bigger than Columbus thinks. And there is something else Columbus doesn’t know. Two huge continents lie in his way. Nobody in Europe knows they are there. On August 3, 1492 Columbus starts out to sea with three ships, the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. Soon the sailors cannot see land.
Crew Member 1- Where are we? I do not see any land.
Columbus- I’m not sure, but we have plenty of food and water to last a few weeks.
Crew Member 2- What if the wind stops blowing and there is a storm? The ships are small and only made of wood.
Columbus- We have extra sails and spare wood on the boats, don’t worry me lassy.
Narrator- Weeks and weeks go by. Now everyone is tired and scared. They are tired of eating salt meat. Tired of seeing nothing but ocean. Tired of being stuck on the tiny ships. One morning the sailors see a strange sight. A blanket of seaweed covers the ocean. The sailors are afraid, but Columbus tells them to keep going.
Columbus- Sail on!
Crew Member 1- Where is the land you promised?
Columbus- Look at the birds flying overhead and the leafy branches floating in the water. Land must be nearby! Don’t worry me lassy.
Narrator- More days go by. The sailors complain loudly.
Crew Member 2- Who cares about finding a new route to the Indies! Columbus we must turn back now, if not we will throw you overboard!
Columbus- Please I beg you to wait just three more days!
Narrator- The first night goes by. On the second night, the lookout on the Pinta sees something ahead. The moonlight is reflecting off a sandy beach.
Crew Member 1- Land! Land! There is land ahead!
Narrator- The message is sent from ship to ship. It is October 12, 1492. As the sun rises, everyone can see an island.
Crew Member 2- This must be the Far East! I can’t wait to get onto shore. (Kisses sand)
Narrator- There are people on the island. Columbus calls them Indians because he thinks he has reached the Indies.
Columbus- I shall name this island San Salvador. This island now belongs to Spain!
Indian - The Island really belongs to us, the people who live here. I have never seen men with those sharp objects. What do they carry in their hands and why have they come?
Narrator- Columbus gives the Indians shiny beads and tiny bells. The Indians give Columbus soft cloth and colorful birds.
Columbus- People in Spain do not have cotton or birds. Where do you get the gold rings that you wear?
Indian- I not understand.
Narrator- Columbus sails further west to look for gold. He visits other islands and meets more Indians. He sees many new things.
Columbus- But where is the gold?
Narrator- Early one morning a strong wind drives the Santa Maria aground.
Crew Member 1- The ship is wrecked!
Columbus- I will move to the Nina.
Crew Member 2- There is not enough rooms for everyone. This ship is too tiny! Several of us will stay behind on the Island.
Narrator- Soon the Nina and the Pinta are ready to sail back to Spain. The ships are already loaded with many new kinds of food-corn, potatoes, peanuts, papayas, and avocados. Columbus forces some of the Indians to come with him because people in Spain have never seen Indians. On the way home the weather changes, fierce winds batter the ships. Huge waves wash over the decks. Even Columbus is afraid of sinking.
Columbus- It is March 15, 1493 and we are finally home! Our voyage has lasted thirty-two weeks! I’ve never been so happy to see Spain!
Narrator- Columbus rides on a mule to visit the king and queen. Everywhere along the way people gather to cheer him and to see what he has brought back.
Queen Isabella- You are a hero!
King Ferdinand- We will now call you “Admiral of the Ocean Sea.”
Columbus- Thank you, I am honored!
Narrator- They believe he has found a new route to the Indies. They have no idea that San Salvador and the other islands he visited are not part of the Indies at all! For the rest of his life, Columbus never knows how truly great his discovery is. He has really found a new world- a world that no one in Europe knew about. It is called America!
Activity: After the script is presented, students will complete a word search that goes along with the Columbus theme.